What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (61 page)

“It’s open. We’ll go when you’re ready.”

“Okay. I need to get a few things together. Meet in the lobby in thirty minutes?”

“Sounds good.” Marcus stood and left Tabitha to finish her breakfast and contemplate his behavior. He’d been almost brusque, as if they were acquaintances instead of being … whatever it was they were.

Tabitha shook her head as he walked away, puzzled and confused.
Will I ever understand men?

When they arrived at the pier, Tabitha wondered which boat they were taking. Marcus guided her along the walkway toward a slip containing a large yacht.

Tabitha stopped and laughed. “Marcus, that is not a sailboat.”

“I said we were going sailing. I didn’t say on a sailboat. If I’d invited you to go yachting, it might sound pretentious.” He smiled with good humor.

Tabitha shook her head ruefully. This man charmed without even trying.

Marcus escorted her on board. It was only a few moments before the crew cast off. The yacht wasn’t the biggest that she’d seen, but it was clearly luxurious. She didn’t know the crew complement, but she imagined a vessel of this size took a few people to operate.

Marcus caressed her hand. “I’ve asked the captain to see if he can take us to a good spot for whale watching.”

Tabitha took a deep breath to steady herself. “That would be terrific.”

“Come. Let’s sit on deck a while.” Several different groupings of deck chairs occupied space on deck. Some were in the sun, some in the shade, and one was partially shaded.

Tabitha stepped out of his grasp. “I vote for partial shade if that’s okay with you.”

“That’s fine. Do you have sunscreen?”

“I put some on before we left the hotel. I probably need to reapply.”

“I’d be happy to help.” He leered at her broadly.

Tabitha laughed, delighted by this playful side of Marcus. She slipped off her sundress. The swimsuit underneath was a bikini – her pre-vacation splurge. It hugged and revealed the curves of her body. She dipped into her tote bag and pulled out a bottle of suntan lotion.

Marcus took the bottle from her hands. He popped open the top and poured a generous portion into his palm before setting the bottle down.

Tabitha gathered the long strands of her hair together and lifted them out of the way as Marcus’s hands grasped her shoulders. He massaged the lotion into her skin, and Tabitha bit back a moan. Her reaction to him continued to astonish her. She realized she was more sensual than she’d ever suspected. The strength of her attraction to Marcus was outside her previous experience.

Marcus made his way down her back and, just when she anticipated that he might touch her ass, his hands swept up her sides instead. When he reached her bikini top, his hands glided around to her abdomen then began to stroke in large, slow circles. Tabitha trembled against him. Marcus pressed his lips to the hollow below her ear and kissed her lightly. Tabitha grasped his forearms for balance and then tried to force his hands lower, toward the apex of her thighs. Marcus resisted and she could not budge him. Deliciously trapped within the circle of his arms, she longed to feel his touch in the most intimate of places and tried again to guide him there without success.

“Marcus?” She leaned back into him.

“Yes, Tabitha?”

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Why do you tease me so?”

“I can’t resist. The anticipation is … exciting.”

Tabitha pulled herself from his arms, frustrated by pent-up desire. “You seem to be able to turn on and off easily enough.”

“No. It’s not that simple, Tabitha.”

Tabitha didn’t hide her exasperation. “Why? Why isn’t it that simple? Is there someone else?”

“I’m not committed to anyone.” Marcus kept his voice low and even.

Tabitha breathed a sigh of relief. “Then what?”

“Let’s sit down.” Marcus situated himself in a deck chair and Tabitha did likewise. She picked up the suntan lotion and applied it to her arms and legs.

Tabitha waited, but it was so difficult to be patient. She had to bite her lips several times to keep from speaking. She sensed he was thinking, choosing the words for whatever it was he wanted to express.

“I look for certain things in a relationship.”

Tabitha nodded. “Everyone does, don’t they?”

“Yes.” Just when Tabitha thought he might not continue, he spoke. “Are you looking for a vacation fling?”

“I’m not looking for anything. I met a guy. I’m enjoying his company. It doesn’t have to be complicated.” Tabitha tried to convey a blasé attitude but suspected that she failed.

“You’re right. I’m overthinking this. But I need to let you know, I’m used to a certain amount of control.”

“That’s rather vague. Besides, I’m heading back to New York in a few days. Who’s to say we’ll even see each other again, right?” She struggled to inject a breezy note into her voice.

“We’re dancing around the issue here, Tabitha.
I
know what’s between us.
You
know what’s between us. If we continue to spend time in one another’s company, we both know where it will lead.”

Tabitha’s usual reticence seemed to desert her. This man – he just felt
right
. “Alright. All cards on the table? You … make me
feel
. You make my body quiver and want like no one else has. It’s … scary and exhilarating all at the same time.”

“Yeah it is.” Marcus took a deep breath. “I want you, Tabitha. I can’t deny that. Hell, I need to take you. Being in your company and … restraining myself. It’s agonizing.”

“Then why? Why are you doing it? Why are you holding back?”

“I want you so much. Too much. I don’t want to … shock you. What I desire from you is not something I’m sure you can give.”

Just when she thought she was getting a handle on the conversation, Marcus pushed her back to square one. “What are you talking about?”

“Tabitha, I respect women. I respect you. But in the bedroom, I like certain things. That’s it. That’s me.”

“Marcus, just spit it out. You’re being so vague I can only guess at what you mean.”

“Okay. Do you like to be dominated? Spanked? Do you like to be like to be tied up?”

Whatever she’d anticipated, this wasn’t it. “You’re getting all worked up because you like to be sexually dominant?” Her body involuntarily tingled.
Domination?
Tabitha found the idea unexpectedly appealing.

“It isn’t for everybody. I don’t like surprises, and I assume my partner doesn’t either. We only have a short time together, so honestly, I didn’t know if it was worth it to get into this.”

Tabitha barely hesitated as she stood and walked to the chair where Marcus reclined. She looked into his face, dear to her already. She lifted her leg over him and then sat, straddling both Marcus and the chair. She leaned forward and took his face in her hands. “I totally think it’s worth it and I can’t wait.” She kissed him, pressing herself against him and his arms came around her.

A tremor passed through him and he grabbed her ass in both hands, pulling her closer.

Marcus reluctantly lifted her away from himself. “Privacy. We need privacy.” They untangled themselves from the deck chair, and Marcus took her hand and led her below. He guided her into a stateroom and firmly closed the door.

Tabitha turned toward Marcus and the look on his face froze her. It was predatory, blatantly sexual. His gaze trapped her and her heart raced. Everything that was female inside of her responded to the purely masculine intent in his crystal blue eyes.

In a flash, he captured her in his arms and plundered her mouth. He pulled her down to the carpet, and his hands grappled with her clothing. He tugged her bikini top off and seized her nipple with his mouth. Tabitha surrendered under the onslaught. She gloried in the strength of his need, which sparked in her an answering desire.

As he dragged her bikini bottoms off, she lifted her hips to assist him. He tossed them to the side and hooked his thumbs in his own swim trunks, pushing them to his knees. He forced her legs open wide and stared at her glistening flesh.

Before she could protest, his mouth was on her, sucking her clit and lapping down to the origin of her wetness. He thrust his tongue inside and she reared against him. The unexpected pleasure stunned her, and she teetered on the edge of orgasm.

Marcus slid up her belly nibbling and biting his way to her neck. His hips forged between her legs, and his erection nudged her. “I’m going to take you now, Tabitha. Tell me you want me.”

“Yes … Marcus! I want you!” She ached to have him fill her.

Marcus thrust completely inside with one stroke. Tabitha dug her heels into the carpet and lunged back against him.

Marcus groaned. “You feel so good. I knew it would be like this.”

The suppressed longing of the last few days welled up inside Tabitha. Desire electrified her body. She had craved his touch, his unrestrained touch. Now she had it, and it consumed her.

Marcus thrust inside again and again, deep and hard. He gave no quarter and she asked for none. His unleashed demand was overpowering, but deep within her, she exulted in it, body, mind and soul.

Instinctively, she clutched at him, pulling him closer. Her body craved everything he gave her. It had never been like this before. No one had ever claimed her with such ferocity. His passion awakened within her a desire deeper than she had ever experienced. She hadn’t known she could feel like this. She hadn’t known she could
be
like this. All her previous involvements paled in comparison.

Tabitha throbbed inside as she writhed against him. Marcus’s hands roamed her body, touching and molding. He didn’t slow his pace nor ease his intensity. A powerful orgasm burst free within her. Intense pleasure filled Tabitha and she strained against him as her nerve endings blazed.

As Marcus came, he crushed her to the carpet. He wound his fingers into her hair and held her head as he invaded her mouth. His body shuddered with completion and he drew a deep gasping breath.

“Tabitha ….” Marcus raised his head and looked her directly into the dark pools of her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Tabitha squirmed beneath him. “I don’t think I’ll ever look at sex the same way again though.”

Marcus laughed. “Why is that?”

“Everything before this seems … bland. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed sex. But this was different.”

“Yes, it was.” Marcus rolled off her. “There’s more you know.”

Tabitha sat up. “What do you mean?”

“With this physical chemistry between us,” Marcus shook his head, “I don’t know where the limit would be.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s about as intense as it can get.”

“No, it isn’t.”

His confident words puzzled Tabitha. “It isn’t? Seriously, Marcus, it was great. My body is still vibrating. But I think that’s about the limit.”

“I can prove you wrong.”

“That sounds almost like a dare.” Win or lose, it was a dare she’d pursue.

“I think it is. You’d have to trust me though, really trust me.”

Tabitha felt a sudden pang of unease. “I do. I mean, I do trust you as much as I can given the circumstances.”

“I understand. It’s up to you.”

“What exactly are we talking about here?”

“Sensation. Feeling. Touching you on a deeper level, your body and your mind. It’s about trust and letting go, exploring your limits.”

“That could mean a lot of things.”
Did Marcus always have to be so ambiguous?

“That’s right, it could. If I pursued this … with you, I’d bind you, possibly blindfold you.”

Tabitha quivered, imagining him exploring her body while she was immobilized.

Marcus took her chin in his hand. “I’d tease you, tempt you, until you begged me to take you and give you release.”

Tabitha’s lips formed a small
oh
of surprise. She was shocked by how attracted she was to the idea. She thought she knew herself well. She thought she was in touch with her own sexuality. Marcus was showing her that she’d only scratched the surface.

Marcus smiled. “I can see the idea intrigues you. It’s what I referred to earlier when I said I like to be in charge in the bedroom. I wasn’t kidding. In truth, though, it’s dictated by you, your limits, and your comfort zone. I don’t go outside that. I wouldn’t want to. If it isn’t good for you, it isn’t good for me. Does that make it sound less … daunting?”

“It does actually.” Tabitha paused to gather her thoughts. “If I say yes, what happens?”

“We agree on the limits. If it any time you feel uncomfortable or you want me to stop, you let me know.”

“Ah, is this where we choose a safe word?” Tabitha had heard a few things here and there. Some of her single friends were adventurous and liked to share details.

“Yes, that’s usually the best way, or sometimes a signal in case you can’t speak.”

“Can’t speak? Oh, I get it.” Tabitha couldn’t imagine being gagged, but a few days ago, she hadn’t had developing feelings for Marcus and a newfound interest in kinky sex.

Marcus pulled on his shorts and helped her up off the floor. “I guess you have something to think about.” He gathered the two pieces of her bikini and held them out to her. “Get dressed. Come up on deck and we can have something to eat.” He kissed her cheek lightly and left the room.